Salivary level of Carcinoembryonic Antigen in lichenoid reactions with malignancy potential before and after treatment with topical corticosteroids

Abstract

Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is an immunological, non-infectious and chronic disease. as a precancerous lesion, OLP has the potential to develop squamous cell carcinoma. Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA), one of the most common tumor markers, is increased in many cancers. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the salivary level of Carcinoembryonic Antigen in lichenoid reactions with malignancy potential before and after treatment with topical corticosteroids.

Materials and Methods: In this study, 20 patients with plaque type and erosive oral lichen planus who had attended oral and maxillofacial diseases department of Tabriz Dental faculty, were selected as case group and 20 healthy individuals were selected as control group. This research was done after the approval of Ethics and Screening Committee. The questionnaire and consent forms were filled by the participant; subsequently, lesions were stained with toluidine blue and biopsied to confirm the OLP in. Salivary samples were collected from both groups. In addition, after a course of topical corticosteroid treatment, second salivary samples were taken from the patients. The values of salivary CEA were measured by monobind kit with ELISA method. Independent and paired t-tests were utilized to analyze the study data in SPSS version 24. Results: before treatment administration, CEA levels in case group ( 174.06±95.55) were significantly higher than study group ( 55.66±41.26 ng/ml) (P<0.05). Salivary CEA levels in the case group before he treatment (174.06±95.55 ng/ml) were significantly higher than CEA levels after the treatment (96.77±66.25ng/ml) (P<0.05). Although, two patients had mild dysplasia, the results of CEA showed no significant difference in the patients with and without dysplasia (P>0.05). Conclusion: salivary CEA can play a role in the etiopathogenesis of Oral lichen planus and be used as one of the diagnostic factors in this disease.